Mining apparatus



June 27, 1961 w, MEININGHAUS MINING APPARATUS 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Jan. 17, 1958 R 0 .m Em V An NH m W rc M m M H. W

`lune 27, 1961 W MEININGHAUS 2,990,168

MINING APPARATUS Filed Jan. 1'?, 1958 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTORS WILHELM /vlElNl/GHAU` BY )ze 4MM* fw? m A24/Fys United States Patent 2,990,168 MINING APPARATUS Wilhelm Meininghaus, Dortmund-Eving, Germany, as-

signor to Gewerkschaft Eisenhutte Westfalia, Weth-v mar, near Lunen, Westphalia, a corporation ofv Ger- Filed Jan. 17, 1958, Ser. No. 709,534 11 Claims. (Cl. 262-8) This invention relates to an improved mining apparatus. The invention more particularly relates to an improved bracing mechanism for a longitudinally extending mining conveyor, preferably of the `double-chain scraper t e.

ypMining conveyors are known which are composed of longitudinally extending individual sections connected together with, for example, limited exibility. The conveyor may have an upper trough defined along its length through which parallel transverse flights of Scrapers are driven, as, for example, by two endless chains, having one end of the Scrapers connected to one of the chains and the other end of the scraper connected to the other chain in the manner of the rungs of a ladder. The chains and Scrapers may be driven by a drive such as a sprocket drive, positioned at one end of the conveyor and the chains and Scrapers may return along the underside of the conveyor.

Conveyors of this type are known as double-chain scraper conveyors and are often used for long wall mining. For this purpose, the conveyor is positioned along a long wall mine face, parallel thereto, and a mining tool for removing mineral from the mine face such as a coal planer or plow is drawn back and forth along the forward longitudinal portion of the conveyor, preferably in guided relationship thereto. The conveyor is continuously advanced as, for example, by piston cylinder arrangements toward the mine face, forcing the mining tool in operational contact with the mine face. As the mining tool removes the mineral, such as the coal from the face, the same may automatically be deposited or plowed into the conveyor for removal.

Conveyors of the abovementioned type are generally subjected to high compressive stresses in their longitudinal direction, due to the chain tension. These compressive stresses force the individual conveyor section together so that the same may be damaged at -the joints, and a reduction of chain tension results.

In order to avoid these difficulties, it has been proposed to support the conveyor against compressive stresses with bracing beams positioned transversely across the end portions of the conveyor and held in place, as, for example, by props in holding contact with the mine floor and the roof.

This proposed arrangement, however, presents diiculties with respect to the advance of the conveyor ends toward the mine face, due to high frictional pressure between the conveyor and the bracing beam which adds to the diiculties already present in this respect, due to the extra weight of the end portions of the conveyor caused by the drive and reversing devices of the conveyor and mining tool.

One object of this invention is to avoid these difficulties while elfectively preventing or reducing the compressive stresses on the conveyor.

These and still further objects will become apparent from the following description read in conjunction with the drawing in which: v

FIG. l is a diagrammatic plan view partially in section .of an embodiment of a bracing arrangement in accordance with the invention,

lFIG. Z is a cross-section of the embodiment shown in Patented June 27, 1961 "ice FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a double chain scraper conveyor positioned along a long wall -rnine face and supported by bracing beams according to the invention.

In accordance with the invention, the conveyor is connected in holding engagement with each bracing beam through a piston cylinder arrangement such as a hydraulic piston cylinder arrangement, extending substantially parallel to the longitudinal direction of the conveyor, so that upon actuation of the piston cylinder arrangement, the support stress on the bracing beams may be increased or relieved.

In accordance with the preferred embodiment, a rst piston cylinder arrangement, and preferably a pair of iirst piston cylinder arrangements extend transversely to said conveyor with one of the piston and cylinder of each of the pair, connected to the bracing beam, and the other of said piston and cylinder of each pair having a slide surface connected thereto and positioned for sliding contact along the bracing beam. Most preferably, the cylinders of the piston cylinder arrangements define the slide surfaces and are positioned on opposite side of the bracing beam. A second piston cylinder arrangement, and preferably a pair of parallel spaced apart piston cylinder arrangements, extends substantially normal to the first piston cylinder arrangements, and with one of the pistons and cylinders of each of the pair connected to the portion of one of the rst piston and cylinder arrangements having the slide surface and most preferably to the cylinder of the first piston cylinder yarrangements positioned closest to the conveyor end. The other of the piston and cylinder of each of the second piston cylinder arrangements is connected to the conveyor and means are provided for actuating piston cylinder arrangements.

Referring to the embodiment as shown in the FIGURE 1,-is a portion of a longitudinally extending mining conveyor of the double-chain scraper type, which, for example, has a coal planer or plow 24 which is pulled by a flexible traction element 25 such as a chain, back and forth, along its leading longitudinal edge portion in guided relationship thereto. The conveyor 1 is continuously advanced and urged against the mine face 26, so that as the coal planer or plow 24 is pulled back and forth, the same detaches the coal from the mine face 26 and plows the same into the conveyor 1 for removal. This arrangement is well known and has the structure, as for example, described in United States Patent 2,745,651.

In order to avoid the compressive stresses on the conveyor 1, -bracing beams 3 and 3a are provided which are positioned transversely across each end portion of the conveyor 1, extending beneath the conveyor 1 as shown. The transverse bracing beams 3 and 3a are secured in position by means of pit props 4 and 4a which extend vertically in holding engagement with the mine floor and ceiling. The pit props 4 and 4a may have any conventional'structure and may, for example, be hydraulically operated pit props.

Two advancing cylinders 5 and 6 of piston cylinder arrangements are provided on the opposite sides of the respective beams 3 or 3a. These cylinders are provided with slide surfaces 7 and `8 in sliding engagement with the sides of the respective bracing beams 3 or 3a. The cylinder 5 is provided with a double acting piston 11, to which a piston rod '9 is connected and the cylinder 6 is provided with a similar double acting piston 12, to which the piston rod 10 is connected. The piston rods 9 and 10 of the pistons 11 and 12 respectively, are secured to the respective beams 3` or 3a, by means of the angle irons or flanges 13, which may extend in the form of a crossmember across the respective beams 3` or 3a. Actuation of the piston cylinder arrangements in one direction will tend to move the cylinders 5 and 6 in one `direction along the beams or 3a, causing the slide surfaces 7 and 8 to slide along the respective beams. Conversely, actuation of the piston cylinder arrangement in the opposite direction will cause movement of the cylinders 5 and 6 along the beam in the opposite direction, causing the slidesurfaces 7 and 8 to slide along the beam in the 4opposite direction.

Connected to the cylinder 6 which is normally on the slide of the respective beams 3 or 3a, facing the closest end portion of the conveyor 1 thereto, are connected t-Wo spaced apart parallel clamping cylinders 14 and 15, provided with the pistons 16 and 17, and the connected piston rods 18 and 19. The piston rods 18 and 19 are connected at their ends to the bottom vof the trough of the conveyor 1, by means of the universal joints -20 and 21, and the angle brackets 22 and 23, which are ,connected near the end of the conveyor trough.

By actuation of the clamping piston 16 and 17 on their sides adjacent to cylinder 6, the piston rods are pushed out opposite to the direction indicated by the arrow 2, with the eifect that a displacement of the conveyor .end in this direction is eifected and the slide surface -8 is pressed in clamping contact with the respective .bracing beams 3 or 3a, tending to relieve the compressive stresses in the lcentral portion of the conveyor 1. When the pistons 16 and 17 are actuated in the .oppositedirectiom this pressure is relieved, and slide-surfaces 7 and 8.may be .very `easily slid along the respective bracing Abeams 3 or 3a, upon actuation of the cylinders 6 and 5 which are advancing cylinders. The actuation of the pistons 16 and `17 .makes it necessary for the piston cylinder arrangements 5, 11, 6 and 12 to have a limited movability in the longitudinal direction of the conveyor 1. Thisis attained by elongated holes 13a provided in the flange 13 to which .the ends ofthe piston rods 9 and 10 are connected in 'holding engagement, the elongated holes 13a providing slides for the ends of the piston rods v9 and A10 so vthat the `whole piston cylinder arrangements 5, 11, 6 and l12 are lmovable in the longitudinal direction of the conveyor 1 corresponding to the length'of the elongated holes 13a. All of the piston cylinder arrangements disclosed are preferably hydraulic piston cylinder arrangements which are preferably operated from the same control panel or from a single control valve, so that as-the piston cylinder arrangements 5, 11, 6 and 12 are actuated, the piston cylinder arrangements 14, 16, 15 and 17 will be actuated so as to relieve or at least partially relieve the-pressure on the beams 3 or 3a to allow the-sliding.

In operation, the conveyor 1 and the miningtool are operated in the conventional manner with the conveyor being advanced and urged in the direction of the mine face, as the mining tool 24 is drawn back and forth Aalong the conveyor 1 in operational engagement With-the mine yface 26, detaching the mineral, such as the coal and depositing the same in the conveyor 1 for removal. 'During normal operation, the props 4 and 4a are secured against the mine iloor and ceiling, holding the Vbracing beams 3 and 3a iirmly in place. The piston cylinder arrangements 14 and 16, and 15 and 17 are actuated on the side adjacent the cylinder 6, so that the piston rods 18' and 19 are extended, forcing the slide surface 8 firmly against ythe bracing respective beams 3 or 3a, and stretching the conveyor -1 thus relieving the compressive stresses. The degree of pressure of the slide surface -8 against the respective beams 3 or 3a, may be controlled by suitable 'actuation of the piston, so that the degree'thatthe com- 4force the-cylinders -Sand 6and the conveyor'l'whichis 4 stress, the slide surfaces 7 and 8 will slide easily along the respective beams 3 or 3a, so that the advancing operation is greatly simplified. After the conveyor end has been advanced in this manner, the desired amount actuation of the piston cylinder arrangements 5, 11, 6, 12 is terminated and the piston ycylinder arrangements 14, 16, 15, A17 -are then actuated in the direction to extend `piston rods `18, v19 and stretch the conveyor 1 relieving thecompressive stresses Vduring operation.

After the conveyor 1 has been advanced about the maximum amount allowed by actuation ofthe pistons 11 and 12, in the cylinders 5 and 6, the props 4 and 4a may be released, as, for example, by relieving the 4pressure in the case of hydraulic props and the piston cylinder arrangements 5, 11 `and 6, 12 may be actuated in theopposite direction so that the respective beams 3 or 3a are advanced with respect to the conveyor 1. The props 4 and 4a may be then again secured in position and the cycle repeated. The actuation of all of the piston cylinder arrangements is preferably eliected from a common control so that upon actuation of the piston cylinder arrangements 5, 11 and 6 and 12 the piston cylinder arrangements 14, 16 and 15, 417 are automatically actuated in the direction to retract the piston rods 18 and 19.

The connection of the piston rods 18 and 19 to the conveyor lfthrough the universal joints 20 and 21, allow a free acting of the piston cylinder arrangements 14, 16 and 15, 17, even when the brackets 22 and 23 are not `in direct -alignmentwith thepiston rods 18 and `19.

The device, in accordance with the invention, is extremely simple and rugged in construction only using .the 'conventional piston cylinder arrangements which @have been long proven in mining operations. The device, therefore, yavoids the previously encountered diiculties while providing a simple and inexpensive device which is completely rugged and dependable even in'continuous operation.

While the invention has been described with vreference to the specific embodiments shown, various changes and modifications will become apparent'to the skilled artisan which fall within the spirit of the invention and scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a mining apparatus having a longitudinally vextending conveyor supported against compressive `stresses 'by 'a bracing beam positioned transversely lacross `anend portion thereat, a mining tool for removing mineral from a mine face movable back and forth along the conveyor, and means for advancing 'the conveyor in a direction transverse to its length toward a mine face, the improvement which comprises a first piston cylinder arrangement extending transverse to said conveyor with one of thepiston and cylinder thereof connected to said bracing beam, the other of said piston and cylinder having a slide surface connected thereto and positioned for sliding :contact along said bracing beam, a second piston cylinder arrangement extending substantially normal tosaid rst piston cylinder arrangement having one of the piston and cylinder thereof, connected to the one of the piston and .cylinder of said iirst arrangement and having said slide surfaceconnected thereto, the other of said piston and vcylinder of said second arrangement being lconnected to said conveyor, and means for actuating said,pi:ston and cylinder arrangements.

2. In a mining apparatus having a longitudinally extending conveyor supported against compressive stresses Vby bracing beams ,positioned transversely .across both the end portions -thereat, a mining tool for removing mineral from a mine face movable back and forth .alongfthecon- -veyor, and means for advancing the conveyoriin adirection transverse to its length toward a'mineface, the-im.- provement which comprises first pistoncylinder arrangen'ments fior-teach* 1bracingbeam extending ytransversetosaid conveyor with one of the piston and cylinder thereof 'connected to the respective bracing beam, the other of said piston and cylinder having a slide surface connected thereto and positioned for sliding contact along said bracing beam, a second piston cylinder arrangement for each bracing beam extending substantially normal to said first piston cylinder arrangement having one of the piston and cylinder thereof, connected to the one of the piston and cylinder of said first arrangement and having said slide surface connected thereto, the other of said piston and cylinder of said second arrangement being connected to said conveyor, 'and means for actuating said piston and cylinder arrangements.

3. Improvement according to claim l, including a pair of similar first piston cylinder arrangements positioned on opposite sides of said bracing beams with said second piston cylinder arrangements connected to one of said pair.

4. Improvement according to claim 1, in which said second piston cylinder Aarrangement is connected to said conveyor through a universal joint.

5. Improvement according to claim 1, in which the pistons of said piston cylinder arrangements are double acting pistons.

6. Improvement according to claim l, in which said bracing beam is connected to a releasable vertical prop.

7. Improvement according to claim 1, including a pair of parallel spaced apart rst and second piston cylinder arrangements.

8. Improvement according to claim 2, including a pair of similar iirst piston cylinder arrangements positioned on opposite sides of said bracing beams with said second piston cylinder arrangements connected to one of said pair.

9. Improvement according to claim 2, in which said second piston cylinder arrangement is connected to said conveyor through a universal joint.

10. Improvement according to claim 2, in which the pistons of said piston cylinder arrangements are double acting pistons.

11. In a mining apparatus having a longitudinally extending double-chain scraper conveyor having positioned at its ends at least one of the drive mechanisms of the conveyor and of a mining tool for removing mineral from a mine face movable back vand forth Ialong the conveyor, and bracing beams positioned transversely to the long axis of the conveyor, the improvement which comprises piston and cylinder arrangement for tensioning the conveyor and for advancing at least one of the conveyor and bracing beam toward the mine face having at least one piston cylinder device at each bracing beam extending transversely to `said conveyor with one of the piston and cylinder thereof connected to said bracing beam, the other of said piston and cylinder having a slide surface connected thereto and positioned for sliding contact along said bracing beam, and having a pair of double action piston cylinder devices parallel to the long axis of the conveyor positioned bilaterally and equidistantly from the centr-al longitudinal axis of the conveyor with the cylinders -thereof connected to one of the conveyor and one of the piston and cylinder having a slide surface connected thereto and with the pistons thereof connected to the other of the conveyor and one of the piston and cylinder having a slide surface connected thereto.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,588,987 OToole June 15, 1926 2,527,452 Rose Oct. 24, 1950 2,689,717 Bainbridge Sept. 21, 1954 2,743,002 Cartlidge Apr. 24, 1956 2,781,888 Lobbe Feb. 19, 1957 FOREIGN PATENTS 803,161 Germany Mar. 1, 1951 1,063,533 France Dec. 16, 1953 1,139,809 France Feb. 18, 1957 

